What’s your line-up?

It’s already two games in and players need to be dropped because the performances have been painful. I love Bauer, but he’s looked absolutely dreadful like he’s on a different universe with his positioning and another man who must be dropped is Joe Allen. Joe has been unable to pass a football, loses the ball constantly, chasing shadows as the opposition walk through the middle; he looks shattered.

I thought Fletcher would never see the pitch again, but sadly he’s the only central midfielder we have in the entire central midfield-heavy squad who has a defensive brain.

Darren Fletcher was often a calming influence against Brentford last week (Image: Nathan Stirk)

Presuming Indi is out, that is what I’d go for. People are calling for all sorts of changes at the back but we just don’t have the players to do it.

The midfield is a waste of space. And it’s a case of who’s the least bad out of Fletcher/Allen/Etebo, dismissing Badou because of his Leeds performance too. Allen needs dropping so I’d go with Fletcher as much as I don’t want to. Sorensen in to provide some youthful exuberance, movement and passing ability.

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James Knowles: Another tough game! Preston have had a solid start to the season, winning both their home games and they’ll be ready to impress in front of the cameras.

I’d take a point in truth, and I think that’s what we’ll get. 1-1, with Afobe scoring his third goal in three matches - this time off his knee in stoppage time.

Benik Afobe celebrates with Tom Ince after scoring during the Sky Bet Championship match between Stoke City and Brentford at the bet365 Stadium. (Image: Nathan Stirk)

Any other business?

Matt Morris: I was fairly confident of a special season before it started. Now I’m concerned about the lack of signings in certain positions, our start has been appalling and I really can’t see us snapping out of it anytime soon.

I sent a Tweet out last Saturday evening and I was questioning: “How can we have three managers and look absolutely no different in that time?”

There’s poor defensive work, we’re unable to pass a football, can’t create any goalscoring opportunities and look scared to actually have a pop on goal. This is from a squad of players who both Lambert and Rowett said are really impressive in training.

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To me it points at a mental issue more than anything. The team looks utterly petrified in making a mistake that we are scared to do anything daring going forward and when the opposition gets the ball, we turn to jelly.

This is all from the players who got us relegated. The new guys don’t seem to have that issue but obviously, with the rest in that mode, it will affect their performances too. Is it about time the club invested in getting a psychologist in?

Stoke City players are left dejected as Ollie Watkins celebrates after scoring Brentford's equaliser at the bet365 Stadium. (Image: Nathan Stirk)

Jamie Leese: We need to do some good business between now and September. The squad is an unbalanced mess. The outgoings are as important as the incomings. We need a centre-back, left back, fast winger and striker. But the most important position we need is a defensive midfielder.

We seem to have an obsession with headless chicken midfielders. That has to change and it could transform the whole team. We need the defence to be protected, we need a link between the defence and attack. Signing a defensive midfielder is an absolute must.

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There’s no doubt our start hasn’t been fantastic, but we need to appreciate how well the opposition have played in the two matches so far.

Leeds beat Derby 4-1 in their other league game whilst Brentford thumped Rotherham 5-1 on the opening day... they’re both showing signs of a potential promotion push and hopefully we will too, given some time.

It’s going to take a bit longer for this new team to gel, and also get used to different coaching methods.

I’m sure everything will click eventually but to expect miracles overnight was perhaps a little fanciful.

Stick with the lads and keep the faith - negativity won’t help anyone!